System and method for trading financial instruments based on undisclosed values

ABSTRACT

In electronic trading venues, there may be orders for which the full information is not publicly displayed. For example, the full quantity of an order available for trading or the most aggressive price at which an order can be traded may not be made public. A system and method are disclosed that facilitates trading based on this non-public information. A first order associated with a financial instrument is placed at a venue to probe for non-public information related to the financial instrument. The results of the probe may then be used to place a second order at the venue that takes advantage of any discovered non-public information.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patentapplication Ser. No. 60/622,527, “SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROBING FORHIDDEN LIQUIDITY AND FINANCIAL MARKETS”, filed Oct. 27, 2004, the entirecontents of which are hereby incorporated by this reference.

COPYRIGHT AND LEGAL NOTICES

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains materialwhich is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has noobjection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent documentor the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and TrademarkOffice patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyrightswhatsoever.

This application contains material relating to the trading of financialinterests. The trading of some financial interests is regulated, as forexample by the United States Government, the various State governments,and other governmental agencies within the United States and elsewhere.The disclosure herein is made solely in terms of logical and financialpossibility and advantage, without regard to possible statutory,regulatory, or other legal considerations. Nothing herein is intended asa statement or representation of any kind that any method or processproposed or discussed herein does or does not comply with any statute,law, regulation, or other legal requirement whatsoever, in anyjurisdiction; nor should it be taken or construed as doing so.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to trading of financial instruments, and inparticular to computer programs, methods, and systems for trading offinancial instruments based on undisclosed values, e.g., undisclosedprice and quantity values.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Hidden values of financial markets may exist in various forms. Forexample, in the equities market, sources of liquidity having hiddenvalues may include orders with reserve, orders with discretion, hiddenorders, odd lot orders, mixed orders, sub-penny orders and OTC orders.

Because hidden values may exist in several different types of orders(e.g., in the sources mentioned above), a user may wish to probe forhidden values to determine if they do indeed exist, where they are andto what degree. In certain situations, a user may wish to probe forhidden size or otherwise a quantity of financial instruments availablefor a trade at a listed price.

The system and method of the present invention enables the placement oforders for a financial instrument based on undisclosed (e.g., hidden)values (e.g., price and quantity values) associated with the financialinstrument. For example, according to an embodiment of the presentinvention, hidden price and quantity values of the financial instrumentare probed by placing a first order to determine a hidden price and/orhidden quantity of the financial instrument, and optionally placing asecond order based on an execution of the first order in order to tradeagainst the hidden price and/or hidden quantity so determined.

An embodiment of the invention provides a method for facilitating thetrading of financial instruments. First, at least one computer placing afirst order associated with a financial instrument in a venue in whichthe financial instrument is traded, the first order having terms suchthat execution of the first order reveals non-public information relatedto the financial instrument and the venue. In response to the firstorder being executed, the at least one computer automatically placing asecond order associated with the financial instrument in the venue, theterms of the second order being based on the non-public informationrevealed by the execution of the first order.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the non-public informationrevealed by the execution of the first order describes an undisplayedquantity associated with the financial instrument and the venue.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the non-publicinformation revealed by the execution of the first order describes anundisplayed price associated with the financial instrument and thevenue.

According to another embodiment of the invention, a method is providedfor facilitating the trading of financial instruments. First, at leastone computer placing a first order associated with a financialinstrument and a first of two transaction sides in a venue in which thefinancial instrument is traded, the first order having a price differentfrom any disclosed prices of orders at the venue associated with thefinancial instrument and a second transaction side. Then, in response tothe first order being executed for the entire quantity of the firstorder, the at least one computer automatically placing a second orderassociated with the financial instrument and the first transaction sidein the venue at the same price at which the first order was executed.

In an embodiment of the invention, the first order has a first quantityand the second order has a second quantity larger than the firstquantity.

In another embodiment of the invention, prior to the at least onecomputer placing the first order, the at least one computer receives athird order associated with the financial instrument and the firsttransaction side, the third order having a third quantity. Furthermore,the first quantity of the first order is derived from the third quantityof the third order.

In an embodiment of the invention, a method is provided for facilitatingthe trading of financial instruments. First, at least one computerplaces a first order associated with a financial instrument and a firstof two transaction sides in a venue in which the financial instrument istraded, the first order having a price identical to a price of a secondorder previously placed in the venue associated with the financialinstrument and a second transaction side, the first order having aquantity greater than the quantity of the second order. In response tothe first order being executed against the second order for the entirequantity of the first order, the at least one computer automaticallyplaces a third order associated with the financial instrument and thefirst transaction side in the venue at the same price at which the firstorder was executed.

In an embodiment of the invention, the quantity of the third order isgreater than the quantity of the first order.

According to another embodiment of the invention, prior to the at leastone computer placing the first order, the at least one computer receivesa fourth order associated with the financial instrument and the firsttransaction side. Furthermore, the quantity of the first order isderived from the quantity of the fourth order.

According to another embodiment of the invention, a method is providedfor facilitating the trading of financial interests. First, at least onecomputer receives a first order associated with a financial instrumentand a first of two transaction sides, the first order having a firstquantity. Next, the at least one computer determines a price related tothe financial instrument based on the prices associated with thefinancial instrument and the second transaction side disclosed by aplurality of venues in which the financial instrument is traded. Then,the at least one computer places a quantity probe order associated withthe financial instrument and the first transaction side in one venue ofthe plurality of venues, wherein a second order in the one venueassociated with the financial instrument and a second transaction sideand the quantity probe order both have prices identical to thedetermined price, and wherein the quantity probe order has a quantityderived from the first quantity and that is greater than the quantity ofthe second order. Finally, the at least one computer places a priceprobe order associated with a financial instrument and the firsttransaction side in another venue of the plurality of venues, whereinthe price probe order has a quantity derived from the first quantity andhas a price identical to the determined price and different from anydisclosed prices of orders in the other venue associated with thefinancial instrument and the second transaction side.

Another embodiment of the invention involves a system for facilitatingthe trading of financial interests comprising at least one computerprogrammed to perform the following: Place a first order associated witha financial instrument in a venue in which the financial instrument istraded, the first order having terms such that execution of the firstorder reveals non-public information related to the financial instrumentand the venue. In response to the first order being executed,automatically place a second order associated with the financialinstrument in the venue, the terms of the second order being based onthe non-public information revealed by the execution of the first order.

Another embodiment of the invention involves a computer readable mediumor media having programming stored thereon that when executed by atleast one computer causes the at least one computer to: Place a firstorder associated with a financial instrument in a venue in which thefinancial instrument is traded, the first order having terms such thatexecution of the first order reveals non-public information related tothe financial instrument and the venue. In response to the first orderbeing executed, automatically place a second order associated with thefinancial instrument in the venue, the terms of the second order beingbased on the non-public information revealed by the execution of thefirst order.

Another embodiment of the invention relates to a system for facilitatingthe trading of financial interests comprising at least one computerprogrammed to: Place a first order associated with a financialinstrument and a first of two transaction sides in a venue in which thefinancial instrument is traded, the first order having a price differentfrom any disclosed prices of orders at the venue associated with thefinancial instrument and a second transaction side. In response to thefirst order being executed for the entire quantity of the first order,automatically place a second order associated with the financialinstrument and the first transaction side in the venue at the same priceat which the first order was executed.

According to another embodiment of the invention, a computer readablemedium or media is provided having programming stored thereon that whenexecuted by at least one computer causes the at least one computer to:Place a first order associated with a financial instrument and a firstof two transaction sides in a venue in which the financial instrument istraded, the first order having a price different from any disclosedprices of orders at the venue associated with the financial instrumentand a second transaction side. In response to the first order beingexecuted for the entire quantity of the first order, automatically placea second order associated with the financial instrument and the firsttransaction side in the venue at the same price at which the first orderwas executed.

Another embodiment of the invention involves a system for facilitatingthe trading of financial interests comprising at least one computerprogrammed to: Place a first order associated with a financialinstrument and a first of two transaction sides in a venue in which thefinancial instrument is traded, the first order having a price identicalto a price of a second order previously placed in the venue associatedwith the financial instrument and a second transaction side, the firstorder having a quantity greater than the quantity of the second order.In response to the first order being executed against the second orderfor the entire quantity of the first order, automatically place a thirdorder associated with the financial instrument and the first transactionside in the venue at the same price at which the first order wasexecuted.

In another embodiment of the invention, a computer readable medium ormedia is provided having programming stored thereon that when executedby at least one computer causes the at least one computer to: Place afirst order associated with a financial instrument and a first of twotransaction sides in a venue in which the financial instrument istraded, the first order having a price identical to a price of a secondorder previously placed in the venue associated with the financialinstrument and a second transaction side, the first order having aquantity greater than the quantity of the second order. In response tothe first order being executed against the second order for the entirequantity of the first order, automatically place a third orderassociated with the financial instrument and the first transaction sidein the venue at the same price at which the first order was executed.

According to another embodiment of the invention, a system is providedfor facilitating the trading of financial interests comprising at leastone computer programmed to: Receive a first order associated with afinancial instrument and a first of two transaction sides, the firstorder having a first quantity. Determine a price related to thefinancial instrument based on the prices associated with the financialinstrument and the second transaction side disclosed by a plurality ofvenues in which the financial instrument is traded. Place a quantityprobe order associated with the financial instrument and the firsttransaction side in one venue of the plurality of venues, wherein asecond order in the one venue associated with the financial instrumentand a second transaction side and the quantity probe order both haveprices identical to the determined price, and wherein the quantity probeorder has a quantity derived from the first quantity and that is greaterthan the quantity of the second order. Place a price probe orderassociated with a financial instrument and the first transaction side inanother venue of the plurality of venues, wherein the price probe orderhas a quantity derived from the first quantity and has a price identicalto the determined price and different from any disclosed prices oforders in the other venue associated with the financial instrument andthe second transaction side.

According to another embodiment of the invention, a computer readablemedium or media is provided having programming stored thereon that whenexecuted by at least one computer causes the at least one computer to:Receive a first order associated with a financial instrument and a firstof two transaction sides, the first order having a first quantity.Determine a price related to the financial instrument based on theprices associated with the financial instrument and the secondtransaction side disclosed by a plurality of venues in which thefinancial instrument is traded. Place a quantity probe order associatedwith the financial instrument and the first transaction side in onevenue of the plurality of venues, wherein a second order in the onevenue associated with the financial instrument and a second transactionside and the quantity probe order both have prices identical to thedetermined price, and wherein the quantity probe order has a quantityderived from the first quantity and that is greater than the quantity ofthe second order. Place a price probe order associated with a financialinstrument and the first transaction side in another venue of theplurality of venues, wherein the price probe order has a quantityderived from the first quantity and has a price identical to thedetermined price and different from any disclosed prices of orders inthe other venue associated with the financial instrument and the secondtransaction side.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The invention is illustrated in the figures of the accompanyingdrawings, which are meant to be exemplary and not limiting, and in whichlike references are intended to refer to like or corresponding parts.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the system of the presentinvention showing the environment in which the system operates.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operative embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 3 is an example of a graphical user interface capable of being usedwith the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is flowchart showing another operative embodiment of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the Probe-BasedTrading (“PBT”) System of the present invention and the environment inwhich it operates. As shown in FIG. 1, the PBT System 110 of the presentinvention communicates with one or more users at User Systems 300through Network 200. PBT System 110 also is in communication with one ormore Market Trading Venues 400 (via computers within each of thosevenues) and Database 120.

Network 200 may comprise any communications network or other meansthrough which computers may communicate with each other, including, butnot limited to, one or more of the following: private, dedicatedtelecommunication lines, wired or wireless LANs and WANs, and theInternet. Also, although Network 200 is shown in FIG. 1 as a singlenetwork, it should be understood that First Network 200 may comprise aplurality of networks in communication with each other.

User Systems 300 enable users to interact with PBT System 110 throughNetwork 200. Users may include traders of financial instruments oragents working on behalf of traders. Financial instruments may includeany item that may be traded in a market, such as, for example, equitysecurities, e.g., stocks, fixed income securities, e.g., bonds,commodities, energy contracts, and foreign currencies. User Systems 300may comprise any computers that enable users to enter and send data toand receive and view data from PBT System 110 via Network 200, such as,for example, personal computers equipped with software that provides agraphical user interface (“GUI”) through which trading data is presentedto and received from the user.

Market Trading Venues 400 represent markets in which financialinstruments are traded, e.g., the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”), theNational Association of Securities Dealers Automatic Quotation System(“NASDAQ”) via SuperMontage (“SM”), and Electronic CommunicationNetworks (“ECNs”) such as Archipelago (“ARCX”), Brut, BloombergTradebook, and Instinet (“INET”). Each Market Trading Venue 400 includesone or more computers that handle trading within the venue andcommunication with other venues and other computers. Communication links410 between the Market Trading Venues 400 and PBT System 110 enable PBTSystem 110 to send to and receive from Market Trading Venues 400 datarelated to financial instruments and proposed trades involving financialinstruments traded in the respective markets of the Market TradingVenues 400. Communication links 410 may include any means through whichcomputer systems may exchange data, including means such as thosedescribed above for Network 200.

As mentioned above, PBT System 110 enables users at User Systems 300 totrade financial instruments in the markets corresponding to MarketTrading Venues 400 based on undisclosed values. In an embodiment of thepresent invention, PBT System 110 may comprise any computer thatfacilitates trading of financial instruments based on undisclosed valuesby (a) placing a first order associated with a financial instrument at aMarket Trading Venue, the first order being associated with a financialinstrument and a first of two transaction sides (e.g., buy or sell side)and having a certain price and quantity (as described further below),and (b) if the first order is executed for its entire quantity,automatically placing a second order associated with the financialinstrument and the first transaction side at the Market Trading Venue atthe same price at which the first order was executed.

PB System 10 may comprise a computer including hardware and/or computercode that enables the computer to perform the functionality mentionedabove and described in detail below. For example, PBT System 10 maycomprise a computerized trading system, such as the TRADEBOOK® systemavailable over the BLOOMBERG PROFESSIONAL® Service, that provides thefunctionality described below. In another example, PBT System 10 maycomprise an order management system, such as BLOOMBERG Sell Side EquityOrder Management System (“SSEOMS”), with the capability of routingorders to various Market Trading Venues, as described below.

Referring again to FIG. 1, PBT System 10 is also in communication withDatabase 120 such that PBT System 110 can store data in and retrievedata from Database 120. For example, Database 120 may reside in the samecomputer system as PBT System 10 or Database 120 may reside in aseparate computer system that has communication links with PBT System10. Database 120 stores all the orders entered by the users associatedwith PBT System 10. Database 120 may also store user configurationinformation such as the identities and order of priority of MarketTrading Venues 400 eligible for probing.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing one way in which the PBT System 110 of thepresent invention may operate. First, as represented in block 1000,information describing an first order are received at PBT System 10.This first order may be referred to as an “initial order.” Theinformation describing the initial order may include informationidentifying the financial instrument with which the order is associated(e.g., where the financial instrument is a stock, the identifyinginformation may be a ticker symbol), a transaction side with which theorder is associated (e.g., buy side or sell side), a price, and aquantity.

This information describing the initial order may also include otherinformation characterizing the order. For example, the initial order maybe characterized as a pegged order and/or an order with discretion. Suchcharacteristics may require additional information to be provided. Forexample, if the initial order is characterized as a pegged order, suchadditional required information may include the price to which the priceof the initial order is to be pegged (e.g., the market price of thefinancial instrument with which the initial order is associated) and anamount by which the price of the initial order is offset from the peggedprice. Where the initial order is characterized as an order withdiscretion, such additional required information may include (a) anupper price range (e.g., +$0.50) or a lower price range (e.g., −$0.50)depending on whether the initial order is associated with the buy side(e.g., the initial order is a bid) or with the sell side (e.g., theinitial order is an offer), respectively, and (b) a trigger quantity (atrigger quantity of zero indicates there is no trigger quantity).Trigger quantity may refer to a quantity threshold which must be met inorder for an order with discretion to be executed. For example, if a buyorder with discretion having a trigger quantity of 300 shares has beenplaced in a Market Trading Venue, sell orders in that venue havingquantities (disclosed or undisclosed) of less than 300 shares will notbe executed against the buy order even if the prices associated withthose sell orders fall within the price discretion of the buy order.

It should be noted that although all currency amounts described hereinrefer to U.S. Dollars, the invention is not limited to U.S. Dollars andother currencies may be used as well.

The information describing the initial order may also includeinformation identifying other functionality associated with the order.For example, the initial order may be identified as a single layer bang(“SLB”) order or a multi-layer bang (“MLB”) order. SLB and MLB refer tofunctionality provided in Bloomberg TRADEBOOK®. The SLB function sendsorders first to the market makers/ECNs at the inside price, until theyfill or drop out, and then to those at the next price level. MLB sendsorders to market makers/ECNs at all price levels, up to the order'slimit, at the same time.

The information mentioned above that describes the initial order may bereceived by PBT System 110 from a variety of sources. For example, thisinformation may be received as data from another computer.

Alternatively, the information may be provided manually by a user. Forexample, PBT System 110 may present to a user at a User System 300 agraphical user interfact (“GUI”), such as GUI 101 of FIG. 3, with whichthe user can interact to enter the information describing the initialorder as mentioned above.

As can be seen in FIG. 3, a user may determine from GUI 101 the tradingposture of a particular financial instrument disclosed in a MarketTrading Venue 400 (e.g., Bloomberg TRADEBOOK listed as “BRTD” in GUI101) by viewing bid column 102 and size column 104. Bid column 102 showsthe bid price for a particular security (in this case Qualcomm) indescending order with the corresponding lot size for each price leveldisplayed in column 104. Similarly, Ask column 106 shows the askingprice for a particular security in ascending order with thecorresponding lot size for each price level displayed in column 108.

The aggregate volume of shares that may be purchased or sold isreflected by the values in columns 105 and 109. For example, the lastentry in column 105 illustrates the sum of Qualcomm shares looking to bepurchased at the listed prices (although additional bids may exist atlower prices). Column 109 performs a similar function for shares thatare for sale. Columns 103 and 107 list the market makers responsible forthe corresponding bids and asks.

GUI 101 also shows user controls, such as the “BUY” and “SELL” buttonsnear the top of the screen. By selecting these controls, a user would bepresented with further interactive elements, e.g., dialog boxes withfurther user controls (not shown), that would enable the user to enterthe information describing the initial order mentioned above

Referring again to FIG. 2, after the information describing the initialorder is received in block 1000, the PBT System 110 determines whetherthe initial order should be probed, as represented in Block 1010. Forexample, certain types of orders may be excluded from probing such thatwhen an order of that type is received, the PBT System 110 does notperform any of the functionality described below, but rather routes theorder directly to a predetermined venue, as represented in block 1020.For instance, the PBT System 110 may allow users to specify certaintypes of orders (e.g., pegged orders) to be excluded from probing suchthat, when the PBT System 110 receives an initial order of the specifiedtype, the order will be routed directly to a venue selected by the user.

In another example, due to regulatory requirements, certain embodimentsof PBT System 110 would send initial orders of certain types directly tocertain venues and would forgo sending probe orders based on thoseinitial orders to any venues. For instance, where PBT System 110 is inthe form of a computer capable of routing orders to venues such asBloomberg SSEOMS, and is not the trading system component of abroker-dealer such as Bloomberg TRADEBOOK®, then PBT System 110 may berequired to route initial orders that are pegged orders andnon-marketable orders without discretion directly to SuperMontage.

If the initial order is not directly routed to predetermined venue, thenoperation continues with block 1100 where the PBT System 110 places oneor more orders at each of one or more Market Trading Venues 400. Theseorders, which may be referred to as “probe” orders, are used todetermine whether a venue has hidden prices and/or hidden quantity, asdescribed below. These probe orders may be based on the initial order inthat the probe orders will be associated with the same financialinstrument with which the initial order is associated and the price andquantity of each probe order will be derived from the price and quantityof the initial order, as described below.

One way in which the operations represented in block 1100 of FIG. 2 maybe performed is depicted in the flowchart of FIG. 4. First, asrepresented in block 1110, PBT System 110 identifies all venues eligiblefor quantity probing and price probing. Quantity probing refers todetermining whether undisclosed quantity exists at a venue that displaysquantity at a particular price. Price probing refers to determiningwhether undisclosed quantity exists at a venue that is not displayingany quantity at that price. Quantity probing and price probing areindependent of each other and can each be done separately.

In an embodiment of the invention, all Market Trading Venues 400 inwhich the financial instrument associated with the initial order aretraded are eligible for quantity probing. In another embodiment, PBTSystem 110 may allow a user to select which venues are eligible forquantity probing and to define the order in which they will be probed.For example, a user may specify that INET, ARCX, BRUT and SM areeligible for quantity probing in that order.

In an embodiment of the invention, all Market Trading Venues 400 inwhich the financial instrument associated with the initial order aretraded are eligible for price probing. In another embodiment, PBT System110 may allow a user to select which venues are eligible for priceprobing and to define the order in which they will be probed. Forexample, a user may specify that INET, ARCX, BRUT and SM are eligiblefor price probing in that order.

Next, PBT System 110 determines the price limit for probe orders, asrepresented in block 1120. PBT System 110 determines this price limitbased on the price of the initial order and other characteristics of theinitial order that affect price.

For example, if an initial order is marketable by virtue of its givenprice alone or its given price combined with a discretion range, thenthe price limit for probe orders based on that initial order may be setat the best disclosed price on the opposite transaction side for allvenues. For instance, where INET and SM disclose offers for 300@$30.03and 1000@$30.04, respectively, an initial order to buy 30,000@$30.05would be marketable. In the same example, an initial order to buy30,000@$30.02 with discretion of +$0.01 and a trigger quantity of 300 orless would also be marketable. Consequently, the price limit for probeorders based on these initial orders would be $30.03, which is the bestdisclosed price on the sell side for all venues.

In another example, if the initial order is not marketable, then theprice limit for probe orders based on that initial order may be set atthe initial order's given price or, if the initial order has discretion,the initial order's given price combined with the discretion range. Forinstance, where INET and SM disclose offers for 300@$30.03 and1000@$30.04, respectively, an initial order to buy 30,000@$30.00 wouldbe non-marketable and the price limit for probe orders based on thisinitial order would be the initial order's price of $30.00. An initialorder to buy 30,000@$30.00 with a discretion of $+0.01 would also benon-marketable and the price limit for probe orders based on thisinitial order would be the initial order's price combined with thediscretion range or, in this case, $30.01.

After the price limit for probe orders is determined, anotherdetermination may be made as to whether the initial order's quantity issufficient to place any quantity probes, as represented in block 1130.As described further below, to place a quantity probe at a given venue,the initial order's quantity must be greater than the quantity disclosedat the venue within the probe price limit. For example, if INET shows anoffer for 3,000 at the probe price limit of $30.03, an initial order tobuy for 1,000@$30.05 would not have sufficient quantity to support aquantity probe at this venue.

If the determination from block 1130 is negative, then operation of PBTSystem 110 returns (via block 1190) to the operations represented inblock 1200 of FIG. 2, described below.

If the determination from block 1130 is positive, then operation of PBTSystem 110 continues with the operations represented in block 1140 ofFIG. 4, placing one or more quantity probe orders at one or more MarketTrading Venues 400 that were identified as eligible for quantity probingand that have disclosed quantity on the transaction side opposite thetransaction side of the initial order at a price within the probe pricelimit previously determined. Each quantity probe order is associatedwith the same financial instrument and transaction side as the initialorder, has a price matching the price of the disclosed quantity of thevenue to which the quantity probe order will be placed, and has aquantity equal to this disclosed quantity increased by a predeterminedamount. In an embodiment of the invention, this predetermined amount isthe smallest amount of the financial instrument tradable in the venue.For example, where the financial instrument is a stock, thispredetermined amount may be 100 shares. Alternatively, thispredetermined amount may be user configurable.

Each quantity probe order may be placed as an immediate or cancel(“IOC”) order so that any amount of the quantity probe order notimmediately executed is canceled. Thus, the placed quantity probe ordersdo not themselves create liquidity in the venues at which they areplaced.

As stated above, one or more quantity probe orders may be placed at agiven venue. For example, as described further below, where an initialorder is associated with the single layer bang functionality ofBloomberg TRADEBOOK®, only one quantity probe order (e.g., at the probelimit price) is sent to a venue.

Also, as stated above, quantity probe orders may be placed at one ormore venues. If the initial order has sufficient quantity, one or morequantity probe orders are sent to each Market Trading Venues 400 in themanner described above. However, if the initial order does not havesufficient quantity for this, then the placement of quantity probeorders is prioritized first based on price (e.g., where quantity probeorders are placed at various prices such as where an initial order isassociated with the multi-layer bang functionality of BloombergTRADEBOOK®) and then according to the venue order provided by the user,as described above in connection with the operations represented byblock 1110.

In an embodiment of the invention, each venue that received quantityprobes are marked as ineligible for receiving further probing, asrepresented in block 1150. Specifically, each venue so marked isineligible for probing at the probe price limit or less aggressivelimits (e.g., a higher limit on the sell side or a lower limit on thebuy side) until certain conditions occur. These conditions may include,for example, (a) a venue receiving a complete fill for a quantity orprice probe order or a refire order (described further below), or (b) avenue quoting additional quantity at the probe price limit or a moreaggressive price.

Following the placement of quantity probe orders, a determination may bemade as to whether the initial order has sufficient remaining quantityfor the placement of price probe orders, as represented in block 1160.The threshold which the remaining quantity must exceed for the placementof price probe orders to take place may be a predetermined amount (e.g.,500 shares where the financial instruments being traded are a stocks) orit may be user configurable. If the determination is negative, thenoperation of PBT System 10 returns (via block 1190) to the operationsrepresented in block 1200 of FIG. 2, described below.

If the determination of block 1160 is positive, then operation of PBTSystem 10 continues with the operations represented in block 1170, withplacing a price probe order at one or more Market Trading Venues 400that were identified as eligible for price probing and that have nodisclosed quantity on the transaction side opposite the transaction sideof the initial order at a price within the probe price limit previouslydetermined. Each price probe order is associated with the same financialinstrument and transaction side as the initial order, has a price at theprobe price limit, and has a quantity of a predetermined amount. In anembodiment of the invention, this predetermined amount is the smallestamount of the financial instrument tradable in the venue. For example,where the financial instrument is a stock, this predetermined amount maybe 100 shares. Alternatively, this predetermined amount may be userconfigurable. In addition, each price probe order may be placed as anIOC order.

Also, as stated above, price probe orders may be placed at one or morevenues. If the initial order has sufficient quantity, price probe ordersare sent to each Market Trading Venues 400 in the manner describedabove. However, if the initial order does not have sufficient quantityfor this, then the placement of price probe orders is prioritizedaccording to the venue order provided by the user, as described above inconnection with the operations represented by block 1110.

In an embodiment of the invention, each venue that received price probesare marked as ineligible for receiving further probing, as representedin block 1180. Specifically, each venue so marked is ineligible forprobing at the probe price limit or less aggressive limits until certainconditions occur, such as those mentioned above in connection with block1150.

Following the operations represented in block 1180, operation of the PBTSystem 110 returns (via block 1190) to the operations represented inblock 1200 of FIG. 2, described below.

Although, in the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 4, quantityprobe orders are placed prior to the placement of price probe orders,this order is not required and in other embodiments of the invention theorder in which quantity probe and price probe orders are placed may bereversed.

Returning to FIG. 2, following the placement of probe orders, thequantity remaining of the initial order is quoted, as represented inblock 1200. For example, where PBT System 110 is the computerizedtrading system of a broker-dealer, such as Bloomberg TRADEBOOK®, theremaining quantity of the initial order may be quoted on this system andmay be given known trading characteristics, e.g., known anti-lock anddisplay/reserve settings.

Then, for each quantity or price probe order that is completely filled(e.g., executed for the full amount of the probe order), PBT System 110automatically places another order (which may be referred to as a“refire” order) at the same venue in which the respective probe orderwas executed if the initial order has sufficient remaining quantity, asrepresented in block 1300. The refire order is given the price at whichthe respective probe order was executed. Also, the refire order is givena predetermined quantity (e.g., 10,000 shares if the financialinstruments being traded are equities) up to the remaining quantity ofthe initial order. In an embodiment of the invention, this predeterminedamount is user configurable.

Then, as represented in block 1400, for each previously placed refireorder that is completely filled, PBT System 110 automatically placesanother refire order at the same venue in which the earlier refire orderwas executed if the initial order has sufficient remaining quantity.This subsequent refire order is given the same price as the previouslyexecuted refire and is given a quantity that is the greater of apredetermined amount (e.g., 10,000 shares) or an amount calculated basedon the previous execution (e.g., twice the amount filled for theprevious refire order) up to the remaining quantity of the initialorder. In an embodiment of the invention, the predetermined andcalculated amounts may be user configurable.

The operations represented in block 1400 may repeat for as long as theinitial order has remaining quantity.

In an embodiment of the invention, the operations represented in blocks1100, 1200, 1300 and 1400 of FIG. 2 may be repeated for different pricelevels. For example, if an initial order is associated with the singlelayer bang functionality of Bloomberg TRADEBOOK®, after the operationsrepresented in blocks 1100, 1200, 1300 and 1400 were performed for afirst price level, they may be performed again for the next price level,and so on until they are finally performed for the price given to theinitial order.

The probing logic described above may be restarted under certaincircumstances. Specifically, the probing logic may be restarted underthe following conditions: (a) the price of the initial order is modified(e.g., by the user) to be more aggressive (e.g., higher for a bid orlower for an offer); (b) the initial order had no remaining quantity andis modified by adding quantity; or (c) the initial order is associatedwith single layer bang functionality of Bloomberg TRADEBOOK® or hasdiscretion and the National Best Bid or Offer (“NBBO”) changed to makethe initial order's price more aggressive.

Where the initial order is a non-marketable order with discretion, theprobing logic described above may be restarted under the followingconditions: (a) the discretion limit becomes more aggressive (eitherthough user modification or due to a pegged order); (b) the oppositeside of the NBBO becomes more aggressive or has its displayed sizeincreased; (c) a predetermined time period (the predetermined timeperiod may be user configurable) has elapsed (e.g., 5 seconds); or atrade executes within the initial order's discretion limit.

The concepts described above are further illustrated in the followingexample:

EXAMPLE

In this example, PBT System 110 is Bloomberg TradeBook.

-   -   The offer side of a TradeBook trading screen shows INET        1000@30.03, SM 1000@30.04    -   Time Event    -   10:30:00        -   BUY order entered on TradeBook for 30000@30.05 SLB        -   Oversize 1100 to INET, probe 100 to ARCX and 100 to SM, all            at 30.03        -   Set SM and ARCX to non probebable from 10:30:00 at limit            30:03        -   Quote 28700 from the initial order on TradeBook using            standard anti-lock and display/reserve settings.    -   10:30:00.1        -   SM returns a fill for 100@30.03        -   Decrement quote from 28700 to 18700        -   Refire 10,000@30.03 to SM        -   Set SM to non probable from 10:30:00.1 at limit 30.03    -   10:30:00.2        -   INET fills for 1000        -   This is a partial fill, and the initial order has quantity            remaining, so the probe logic is not restarted again.        -   Increment the quote (e.g., initial order) from 18700 to            18800.    -   10:30:00.3        -   ARCX rejects 100 shares        -   The initial order has remaining quantity, so the probing            logic is not restarted again.    -   10:30:00.4        -   ARCX enters a quote at 1000@30.03        -   Reset ARCX to be probeable.        -   Decrement the quote from 18800 to 17700.        -   Oversize 1100@30.03 to ARCX

While the invention has been described and illustrated in connectionwith preferred embodiments, many variations and modifications as will beevident to those skilled in this art may be made without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the invention, and the invention is thus not tobe limited to the precise details of methodology or construction setforth above as such variations and modifications are intended to beincluded within the scope of the invention. Except to the extentnecessary or inherent in the processes themselves, no particular orderto steps or stages of methods or processes described in this disclosure,including the Figures, is implied. In many cases the order of processsteps may be varied without changing the purpose, effect or import ofthe methods described.

1. A method for facilitating the trading of financial instrumentscomprising: at least one computer placing a first order associated witha financial instrument in a venue in which the financial instrument istraded, the first order having terms such that execution of the firstorder reveals non-public information related to the financial instrumentand the venue; and in response to the first order being executed, the atleast one computer automatically placing a second order associated withthe financial instrument in the venue, the terms of the second orderbeing based on the non-public information revealed by the execution ofthe first order.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the non-publicinformation revealed by the execution of the first order describes anundisplayed quantity associated with the financial instrument and thevenue.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the non-public informationrevealed by the execution of the first order describes an undisplayedprice associated with the financial instrument and the venue.
 4. Amethod for facilitating the trading of financial instruments comprising:at least one computer placing a first order associated with a financialinstrument and a first of two transaction sides in a venue in which thefinancial instrument is traded, the first order having a price differentfrom any disclosed prices of orders at the venue associated with thefinancial instrument and a second transaction side; and in response tothe first order being executed for the entire quantity of the firstorder, the at least one computer automatically placing a second orderassociated with the financial instrument and the first transaction sidein the venue at the same price at which the first order was executed. 5.The method of claim 4, wherein the first order has a first quantity andthe second order has a second quantity larger than the first quantity.6. The method of claim 5, comprising: prior to the at least one computerplacing the first order, the at least one computer receiving a thirdorder associated with the financial instrument and the first transactionside, the third order having a third quantity; and wherein the firstquantity of the first order is derived from the third quantity of thethird order.
 7. A method for facilitating the trading of financialinstruments comprising: at least one computer placing a first orderassociated with a financial instrument and a first of two transactionsides in a venue in which the financial instrument is traded, the firstorder having a price identical to a price of a second order previouslyplaced in the venue associated with the financial instrument and asecond transaction side, the first order having a quantity greater thanthe quantity of the second order; and in response to the first orderbeing executed against the second order for the entire quantity of thefirst order, the at least one computer automatically placing a thirdorder associated with the financial instrument and the first transactionside in the venue at the same price at which the first order wasexecuted.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the quantity of the thirdorder is greater than the quantity of the first order.
 9. The method ofclaim 8, comprising: prior to the at least one computer placing thefirst order, the at least one computer receiving a fourth orderassociated with the financial instrument and the first transaction side;and wherein the quantity of the first order is derived from the quantityof the fourth order.
 10. A method for facilitating the trading offinancial interests comprising: at least one computer receiving a firstorder associated with a financial instrument and a first of twotransaction sides, the first order having a first quantity; the at leastone computer determining a price related to the financial instrumentbased on the prices associated with the financial instrument and thesecond transaction side disclosed by a plurality of venues in which thefinancial instrument is traded; the at least one computer placing aquantity probe order associated with the financial instrument and thefirst transaction side in one venue of the plurality of venues, whereina second order in the one venue associated with the financial instrumentand a second transaction side and the quantity probe order both haveprices identical to the determined price, and wherein the quantity probeorder has a quantity derived from the first quantity and that is greaterthan the quantity of the second order; and the at least one computerplacing a price probe order associated with a financial instrument andthe first transaction side in another venue of the plurality of venues,wherein the price probe order has a quantity derived from the firstquantity and has a price identical to the determined price and differentfrom any disclosed prices of orders in the other venue associated withthe financial instrument and the second transaction side.
 11. The methodof claim 10, wherein, in response to the quantity probe order beingexecuted against the second order for the entire quantity of the probeorder, the at least one computer automatically placing a third orderassociated with the financial instrument and the first transaction sidein the venue at the same price at which the quantity probe order wasexecuted.
 12. The method of claim 10, wherein, in response to the priceprobe order being executed for the entire quantity of the price probeorder, the at least one computer automatically placing a third orderassociated with the financial instrument and the first transaction sidein the venue at the same price at which the first order was executed.13. A system for facilitating the trading of financial interestscomprising at least one computer programmed to: place a first orderassociated with a financial instrument in a venue in which the financialinstrument is traded, the first order having terms such that executionof the first order reveals non-public information related to thefinancial instrument and the venue; and in response to the first orderbeing executed, automatically place a second order associated with thefinancial instrument in the venue, the terms of the second order beingbased on the non-public information revealed by the execution of thefirst order.
 14. A computer readable medium or media having programmingstored thereon that when executed by at least one computer causes the atleast one computer to: place a first order associated with a financialinstrument in a venue in which the financial instrument is traded, thefirst order having terms such that execution of the first order revealsnon-public information related to the financial instrument and thevenue; and in response to the first order being executed, automaticallyplace a second order associated with the financial instrument in thevenue, the terms of the second order being based on the non-publicinformation revealed by the execution of the first order.
 15. A systemfor facilitating the trading of financial interests comprising at leastone computer programmed to: place a first order associated with afinancial instrument and a first of two transaction sides in a venue inwhich the financial instrument is traded, the first order having a pricedifferent from any disclosed prices of orders at the venue associatedwith the financial instrument and a second transaction side; and inresponse to the first order being executed for the entire quantity ofthe first order, automatically place a second order associated with thefinancial instrument and the first transaction side in the venue at thesame price at which the first order was executed.
 16. A computerreadable medium or media having programming stored thereon that whenexecuted by at least one computer causes the at least one computer to:place a first order associated with a financial instrument and a firstof two transaction sides in a venue in which the financial instrument istraded, the first order having a price different from any disclosedprices of orders at the venue associated with the financial instrumentand a second transaction side; and in response to the first order beingexecuted for the entire quantity of the first order, automatically placea second order associated with the financial instrument and the firsttransaction side in the venue at the same price at which the first orderwas executed.
 17. A system for facilitating the trading of financialinterests comprising at least one computer programmed to: place a firstorder associated with a financial instrument and a first of twotransaction sides in a venue in which the financial instrument istraded, the first order having a price identical to a price of a secondorder previously placed in the venue associated with the financialinstrument and a second transaction side, the first order having aquantity greater than the quantity of the second order; and in responseto the first order being executed against the second order for theentire quantity of the first order, automatically place a third orderassociated with the financial instrument and the first transaction sidein the venue at the same price at which the first order was executed.18. A computer readable medium or media having programming storedthereon that when executed by at least one computer causes the at leastone computer to: place a first order associated with a financialinstrument and a first of two transaction sides in a venue in which thefinancial instrument is traded, the first order having a price identicalto a price of a second order previously placed in the venue associatedwith the financial instrument and a second transaction side, the firstorder having a quantity greater than the quantity of the second order;and in response to the first order being executed against the secondorder for the entire quantity of the first order, automatically place athird order associated with the financial instrument and the firsttransaction side in the venue at the same price at which the first orderwas executed.
 19. A system for facilitating the trading of financialinterests comprising at least one computer programmed to: receive afirst order associated with a financial instrument and a first of twotransaction sides, the first order having a first quantity; determine aprice related to the financial instrument based on the prices associatedwith the financial instrument and the second transaction side disclosedby a plurality of venues in which the financial instrument is traded;place a quantity probe order associated with the financial instrumentand the first transaction side in one venue of the plurality of venues,wherein a second order in the one venue associated with the financialinstrument and a second transaction side and the quantity probe orderboth have prices identical to the determined price, and wherein thequantity probe order has a quantity derived from the first quantity andthat is greater than the quantity of the second order; and place a priceprobe order associated with a financial instrument and the firsttransaction side in another venue of the plurality of venues, whereinthe price probe order has a quantity derived from the first quantity andhas a price identical to the determined price and different from anydisclosed prices of orders in the other venue associated with thefinancial instrument and the second transaction side.
 20. A computerreadable medium or media having programming stored thereon that whenexecuted by at least one computer causes the at least one computer to:receive a first order associated with a financial instrument and a firstof two transaction sides, the first order having a first quantity;determine a price related to the financial instrument based on theprices associated with the financial instrument and the secondtransaction side disclosed by a plurality of venues in which thefinancial instrument is traded; place a quantity probe order associatedwith the financial instrument and the first transaction side in onevenue of the plurality of venues, wherein a second order in the onevenue associated with the financial instrument and a second transactionside and the quantity probe order both have prices identical to thedetermined price, and wherein the quantity probe order has a quantityderived from the first quantity and that is greater than the quantity ofthe second order; and place a price probe order associated with afinancial instrument and the first transaction side in another venue ofthe plurality of venues, wherein the price probe order has a quantityderived from the first quantity and has a price identical to thedetermined price and different from any disclosed prices of orders inthe other venue associated with the financial instrument and the secondtransaction side.